Arcade transformation is shoppers’ delight

Delighted shoppers and retailers alike have commended a project to update, upgrade and re-brand the 130,000 sq ft. Brackla Street Shopping Centre – now named Bridgend Shopping Centre – in the heart of Bridgend town centre and adjacent to ASDA.

The scheme is being carried out for Hawkstone Properties by Main Contractors Edward Davies. Architects are Morgan2Hayman Architects; Quantity Surveyors are Ridge & Partners and Mechanical and Electrical Engineers are WSP Consulting Engineers.

The Brackla Centre was built in the early 1970s and had become very dated and unattractive.

Geared to improving the shopping environment and to attracting new shoppers and tenants, the project, just being completed, has involved wide-ranging refurbishment including the installation of new paving, glazing, new ceilings and new lighting.

And the transformation has certainly made a major impression on delighted shoppers and retailers. Mr Chris Baggins of Edward Davies said “The feedback on the project from shoppers in the arcade has been great. They say the shopping centre has such a different atmosphere now – whereas previously it was dark, dingy and wet, it is now and an open, light and dry environment. The traders are over the moon with the new improvements too. We didn’t even get any adverse feedback during the building works, which I had expected. The project has gone very well – especially considering the restrictions imposed by the need to ensure ongoing trading during the works.”

New decorative concrete slab paving has been laid throughout the single storey arcade and a new lighting system has also been installed.

The existing glazed canopy running the entire length of the arcade had become cracked and has been removed and replaced. Alongside the glazed canopy, the remaining section of exposed steel roofing has been replaced with a white soffit.

The formerly brown brick walls of the arcade have been rendered and painted white and new signage has been installed to the front and rear of the building.

Further works include the installation of glazed cabinets along the previously blank areas of walling within the arcade (the cabinets look rather like shop windows and are available for rent by retailers wishing to create a promotional display). In addition, new seating and refuse bins have been installed.

A further element of the works has involved the installation of low and high level power supplies to serve special promotions and displays.

The project has been particularly challenging in that all the works have had to be carried out without disrupting trading in the centre. In the case of construction works outside some of the larger stores, out of hours working was necessary.

Existing occupiers at the shopping centre include a new 17,000 sq ft Argos Extra, Peacocks, Farmfoods, Iceland, Store 21 and Blockbuster. The British Heart Foundation has also opened a 6,000 sq ft furniture and electrical store at the centre.

Hawkstone Properties Plc is a privately owned property development and investment company, founded in 1997.

The company’s main area of business is developing retail, office, residential and leisure schemes across the UK, which once completed, are generally retained as part of Hawkstone’s long term investment portfolio.

Their success over the last 12 years is a direct result of the close working relationships they have maintained with tenants, agents, banks, financial institutions and consultants. It is these relationships which have enabled Hawkstone to successfully survive the recent downturn in the market, which means they are now well placed to take advantage of the recovery over the next few years.

Edward Davies is a leading construction company that has built up an enviable reputation for its development of innovative solutions, high quality build and construction projects to public and private sector clients.

With their vast experience of the whole development process, Edward Davies can ensure a focused approach towards the build and construction across all sectors of the industry such as high tech facilities, office accommodation, commercial buildings, warehousing and vehicle showrooms.